TECHNOLOGY FOR SENIORS

Inspired by a similar town in the Netherlands, France opens up their first experimental “Alzheimer’s Village.” The small village, like most in France, has a cafe-restaurant, a hairdresser, a superette and a library. Neighbours have a cup of coffee and a chat on the terrace, or meet up in the park or at the gym […]

From the Washington Post, a story about the power of music in relation to memory, and how some forward-thinking professionals are using that link to help patients with memory issues. The upbeat song “Sweet Caroline” often prompts listeners to sing and dance. But when music therapist Alaine Reschke-Hernández played the song for an older person, […]

“NO!” It’s the favorite word of toddlers and the favorite word of most seniors who need regular care. And that – as much as anything – is one of the significant flashpoints between caregivers and care recipients. Too many people see superficial similarities between the behavior of a child and an older adult, and instinctively […]

When caring for an elder loved one, some conversations are unpleasant but necessary. One of those conversations is often about alcohol consumption.  To be clear right off the bat: this isn’t about alcoholism or addiction. Those are distinct conditions, which have to be addressed on their own.  What we’re talking about here is ‘casual’ or […]

Here’s a great story about a young person harnessing the power of social media to help a loved one suffering from Alzhiemers. From ABC7 in California. “85-year-old Charles Mallet likes to cook, dance and make TikTok videos with his granddaughter Basia. The former IBM engineer and Navy veteran was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s seven years ago. […]

From the San Antonio Express News, some great suggestions to help keep seniors active while living with arthritis. Before exercising, try putting a heating pad on the painful joint for several minutes to loosen it up. And consider taking an anti-inflammatory like naproxen sodium (Aleve) or ibuprofen (Advil) or a pain reliever like acetaminophen (Tylenol) […]

We recently blogged about light therapy, but this isn’t quite what we were thinking of. A team of scientists at the UK’s University of Southampton are using UV light instead to create images of neurons without the need for huge, high-energy emitters. “Dr. Bill Brocklesby, of the Zepler Institute for Photonics and Nanoelectronics, says: “The […]

From the San Antonio Express News, some great suggestions to help keep seniors active while living with arthritis. Before exercising, try putting a heating pad on the painful joint for several minutes to loosen it up. And consider taking an anti-inflammatory like naproxen sodium (Aleve) or ibuprofen (Advil) or a pain reliever like acetaminophen (Tylenol) […]

I’m fascinated by these sorts of stories. A terrible, crippling, life-altering disease could – potentially – be treated with…nasal drops. “[R]esearchers from Karolinska Institute in Sweden and LSU Health New Orleans have released a study that suggests a comparatively simple way of investigating inflammation’s effect on AD and possibly treating it. The study’s authors successfully […]

Father’s Day is just around the corner, and I’m sure most of us have an elderly loved one who needs a gift. So I’m here to help you out with some great suggestions. The Gift of Music – The SiMPL Radio & Music Player. A simple device that lets your loved one control their music […]

Birds are chirping, flowers are budding and the days are longer than the nights. Spring is finally here, and that means it’s time to make sure the senior loved ones in your life are ready for the season. Continuing Covid lockdowns make this particularly difficult for loved ones in residential care facilities, but it’s still […]

Having arthritis or similar chronic conditions doesn’t mean you have to give up on living life. There are some simple tools you can employ to relieve the pain & discomfort associated with these conditions, without prescription drugs or unknown supplements. At-home physical therapy – Creaky Joints has a great rundown of exercises for the hands […]

When caring for an elder loved one, some conversations are unpleasant but necessary. One of those conversations is often about alcohol consumption.  To be clear right off the bat: this isn’t about alcoholism or addiction. Those are distinct conditions, which have to be addressed on their own.  What we’re talking about here is ‘casual’ or […]

From NBC Montana, a look at how broad some places define “mentally ill.” “Montana Rep. Danny Tenenbaum (D-Missoula), also works as a public defender. About a year ago, a case came across his desk that caught his eye. “For me, it was a problem I didn’t know existed until a year ago when a case […]

From Consumer Reports, a study showing that a little gaming time can be beneficial for seniors.  According to researchers from the University of California at Irvine, seniors who play online brain games can boost their cognitive skills to be just as sharp as those decades younger than them.  “The brain is not a muscle, but […]

We talk a lot about caring for our loved ones, but we don’t talk enough about caring for ourselves as caregivers.  If you are reading this, then chances are you know how…exhausting it can be caring for a loved one who has medical issues. Maybe exhausting isn’t the right word. Maybe, as a friend of […]